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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Iowa Western took charge early to earn their date in the National Championship game.  They earned a 15-6 win over Navarro (TX) in game 18 of the Alpine Bank Junior College Baseball World Series.

Nineth ranked Iowa Western (52-10, 4-1 JUCO) took an early 6-0 lead, highlighted by a homerun by Ross Indlecoffer in the second inning and a two RBI double to left center by Greg Bennett.  Navarro (41-18, 3-2 JUCO) would jump on the board in the fourth via a Jose Gonzalez, Jr. RBI groundout.  Iowa Western would get that run back in the bottom of the inning on a Peterson sacrifice fly.
 
In the fifth, Navarro would cut the lead to five as Wesley Powell scored on a passed ball.  The Reivers would follow by adding four in the bottom of the frame including a two run home run by Jaden Rolffs.
 
Staring down elimination via the run rule, Navarro plated two runs in the seventh on a two out Reiver dropped fly ball. In the eighth, the Bulldogs would cut it to four as Esteban Cardoza-Oque hit a solo home run and Gonzalez, Jr. drilled a shot to right field, scoring two.
 
Iowa Western would take those runs back, add a few, and end the game on a Gibson Krzeminski RBI single. Iowa Western 15, Navarro 7.

Bennet ended up 3-5 with three RBI while three other Reivers had two RBI each.  Leadoff man Cooper Bowman went 3-4, scoring four runs and a RBI.  Brandon Dody (2-0) got the victory for Iowa Western.

For Navarro, Gonzalez, Jr. went 1-5 with three RBI.  Cardoza-Oque was the only other Bulldog with an RBI. Starter Carson Rollins only went 1.1 inning and drew the loss.

Iowa Western now plays for the National Championship on Saturday, June 1 v. Central Arizona at 7:00pm MT.  Navarro's season has come to an end with a final record of 41-18.